Apparatus for weighing cylindrical bodies



A ril 26, 1938; E. u. CAVE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING CYLINDRICAL BODIESFiled Nov. 25, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v MFA/70R EDWARD Ll. 6/11 5-April 1938- 'E. u. CAVE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING CYLINDRICAL BODIES FiledNov. 25, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 www QR April 26, 193-8.

E. u. CAVE 2,115,620

APPARATUS FOR WE'IGHING CYLINDRICAL BODIES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov.25, 19555 MM. 7 W I April 1938- E. u. CAVE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHINGCYLINDRICAL BODIES Filed Nov. 25, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Arr).

April Z6, 1938. C 2,115,620

APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING CYLINDRICAL BODIES Filed Nov. 25, 1955 7Shets-Sheet s //W f/Y 70%: 50144490 LA 641/5- MIM April 26, 1938. E. u.CAVE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING CYLINDRICAL BODIES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledNov. 25, 1935 April 26, 1938. E. u. CAVE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHINGCYLINDRICAL BODIES '7 Shets-Sheet 7 Fild Nov. 25. 1935 748 E. 21//VVf/V7'0R y ED ARD U. 6AM:-

Arr'r Patented Apr. 26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR WEIGHINGGYLINDRICAL BODIES Edward U. Cave, Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to TheJeffrey Manufacturing Company, a. cor.-

poration of Ohio Application November 25, 1935, Serial No. 51,529

6 Claims.

7 This invention relates to a packaging or container filling apparatus,and is particularly adapted to stack cylindrical bodies, such asdynamite sticks, 'or any other cylindrical bodies, in containers, suchas boxes, in cord-wood fashion and of uniform depth over the entire areaof the container, and to place a given weight of material in eachcontainer.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an automaticapparatus for filling boxes with cylindrical bodies, with the bodiesstacked in cord-wood fashion, with a predetermined weight of material ineach box.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved distributorand diverter for distributing cylindrical bodies uniformly to channelswhich branch from a main receiving channel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a distributor whichforms a cascade path for a cylindrical body whereby the continuousvertical drop of a body is restricted. This is particularly useful wheredynamite bodies are being boxed as the maximum allowable vertical dropis restricted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dischargemechanism for a weighing hopper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pay-off device, whichwill operate to drop cylindrical bodies at a fixed time interval, aftera predetermined weight of such bodies has been received by a weighinghopper.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved gatecontrol mechanism.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a complete electricalcontrol system for an automatic Weighing, distributing, and boxingapparatus.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus comprising myinvention, the control circuits and certain operating parts beingomitted for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the conveyor of my invention taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1 loolging in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of a portion of the control system, includingcertain mechanical features, shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a gate closing mechanismleading to a distributor;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end view taken on the line l0-l0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the cam operating mechanism for thedistributor of Fig. 5;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail views of the payout of the distributor ofFig. 5; Fig. 13 being a sectional view, Fig, 14 a side view and Fig. 15an end view;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of a diverter;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the diverter of Fig. 16, and the operatinglever therefor;

Fig. 18 is an end view of the top portion of the operating lever for thediverter;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of the ram operating lever showndiagrammatically in Fig. 3;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged view of the control drum on the end of the leverof Fig. 19;

' Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of the time delay mechanism forclosing the gate, shown more in detail in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 22 is a transverse View of the conveyors for the containers and theelevating and ram mechanism therefor.-

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustratedsomewhat diagrammatically a portion of the mechanical elements whichcomprise the apparatus of my invention; substantially all of theelectrical control circuits being here omitted in the interest ofclearness. The problem presented is to take cylindrical bodies, such assticks of dynamite, from a conveyor A and to place them in a containersuch as a box 13, of which there are three illustrated in Fig. 1, thoughthe number may be increased or reduced as desired, so that thecylindrical bodies are evenly distributed over the whole area of the boxand are stacked in cord-wood fashion. It is further desirable to place agiven weight of material comprising the cylindrical bodies in each ofthe boxes B. Briefly described, this is efiected in the followingmanner, the detailed means being more completely described hereinafter.

The conveyor A comprises a frame 30 with a head pulley 3| and anadjustable tail pulley 32. The head pulley 3| is driven from a motor 33through appropriate speed reduction and drive mechanism 34. Anendlessbelt 35 travels between the pulleys 3| and 32 and is provided with veyorA is provided with a plurality of spaced guide straps 40 which guide andsupport the bodies 39 to the bottom portion of the conveyor A. Saidbodies 39 are then delivered to one of a plurality of distributors C, bywhich they are diverted into a plurality of chutes, hereinafterdescribed more in detail, from which chutes they. are directed intoisolated compartments of a weighing hopper D. It may be pointed out thatwhen a predetermined weight of material is received in the first of saidhoppers D, that automatic means is set into operation to discharge saidhopper into the box B with the bodies 39 stacked in cord-wood fashion,and equally distributed over the entire area of said box. When thistakes place a gate shuts off the supply of cylindrical bodies to thefirst distributor C and directs them to the second distributor C. Thisaction is repeated with the successive distributors until the lasthopper D has received the necessary amount of material, after which thecycle is repeated. When a box B is filled with material it isautomatically lowered from the hopper D and pushed to a conveyor whichcarries it away, an empty box being substituted therefor, to be filledin a similar manner.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 21, attention is nowdirected to the particular construction of the distributors C and of thegate closing mechanism E associated with each of said distributors. Itmay be pointed out that the distributors and the gate closing mechanismsare all of similar structure except, however, that the last distributorC associated with the conveyor does not have any gate closing mechanismassociated therewith, for reasons which will be pointed out hereinafter.

Said distributors C, each comprise a main chute 4| which increases inwidth progressively downward. As best seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings,the chute 4| has a length slightly greater than the length of thecylindrical body 39 which is to be packaged or boxed. The distributor Cmay be suspended from the frame 30 of the conveyor A by means of slidingtongue and groove construction 42, best seen in Fig. 8. Removabletapered pins 43 carried at the ends of chains 44 may extend throughappropriate apertures in the tongue and groove to retain the distributorC on said frame.

Associated with the mouth 45 of the distributor C is a gate mechanism Ecomprising a plurality of sliding straps 46 adapted to slide over themouth 45 and close it. Rigidly attached to said straps 46 is a bracket41 which extends downwardly to a plate 48. The plate 48 carries a pairof upstanding bosses 49, 49 at each edge thereof, each of which carriestransversely extending shafts 59 and 5| which project into an elongatedslot 52 carried by a pair of downwardly extending plates 53 rigid withthe frame 38 of conveyor A. It will thus be seen that the plate 48 andthose parts carried thereby, is slidably mounted on the frame 30 ofconveyor A.

Keyed on the shaft 50 is a lever 54 having at its upper end a hook 55(see Fig. 21) adapted to hook over and latch onto one of the arms 31 ofthe conveyor A. To operate the lever 54 another lever 55 is keyed to theshaft 50 and is connected to the armature of a solenoid 56 byappropriate link mechanism 51. As will be hereinafter explained inconnection with the electrical control system. when the solenoid 56 isenergized, the lever 54 will pivot in a clockwise direction and latchonto one of the arms 31 of the conveyor A.

As a consequence, the entire gate mechanism E comprising the straps 46,the plate 48 and all those elements carried by said plate, will be movedtowards the left, as viewed in the drawings, thereby to close the mouth45 of the distributor C. After said gate mechanism has moved to a closedposition, the plate 48 will engage the lower portion of a pair ofpivoted levers 58 which are carried between plates 53 attached to theframe 30 of conveyor A.

The upper portions of the levers 58 are provided with earns 60 adaptedto engage outwardly extending pins 6| carried by the levers 54. It willthus be seen that the plate 48 will rock the levers 58 about their pivotpoints, whereupon the cams 60 will engage the pins 6| and effect adisengagement of the hooks 55 from the arms 31. The gate will thereforebe moved to its closed position and will remain in said position untilreset in a manner which will be described more in detail hereinafter. Itmay be pointed out, however, that a. reset lever 6| is connected to theplate 48 by a link 62, which lever 6| is pivoted to the frame 30 of theconveyor A (see Fig. 1) and may be operated by a solenoid 63. It may bementioned at this point that the link mechanism for connecting thesolenoid 63 and the plate 48 is preferably of the form illustrated inFig. l, a slightly different connection being illustrated in Fig. 3 inorder to avoid unnecessary complication of this figure.

The main chute 4| of the distributor C is of gradually increasingdiameter, progressively downward to a branching point, at which point apair of gradually sloping branch chutes 64, 64 branch from said mainchute 4|. Each of said branch chutes 64, 64 leads to a continuationthereof comprising a. vertical branch chute 65, 65. The vertical branchchutes 65, 65 in turn branch into a pair of gradually sloping secondarybranch chutes 66, 66, which in turn lead to secondary vertical branchchutes 61, 61. It is to be noted that the branch chutes 65, 65 are alsoof increasing width progressively downward, while this construction isnot necessary in the vertical branch chutes 61, 61. This downwarddiverging of the main chute 4| and the branch chutes 65, 65 tends toform the cylindrical bodies 39 into a position where they will benaturally distributed equally among the branches. However, to insureexact distribution of the bodies 39 between each of the branches 64, 64,and subsequently between each of the branches 61, 61, I provide adiverter 68 at the point of branching between the main chute 4| and thebranch chutes 64, 64 and similar diverter 68, 68' between the branchchutes 65, 65 and the secondary branch chutes 66, 66. The constructionof these diverters will be described more in detail hereinafter.

It is to be particularly noted that the branching construction of thedistributor C has two important functions. In the first place, thisconstruction provides for receiving a plurality of bodies 39 from asingle point and distributing them equally into four different chutes orchannels. It will, of course, be obvious that the num ber of chutes orchannels into which the bodies 39 are finally distributed may be almostindefinitely increased by the progressive branching of any chute. Whilefour final columns are illustrated in the drawings, I contemplatedivisions into even greater numbers, such as sixteen, thirtytwo orsixty-four divisions thereof. In the second place, quite independent ofthe action of dividing the bodies 39 into equal numbers, the

branching construction of the-distributor provides an effective meansfor restricting :the con-" tinuous vertical drop of a body 39. That is.any body 39 can only drop a limited amount, as determined by the lengthof a vertical chute ll, 66 or 61, when its fall will be interrupted byan approximately horizontal chute such as 64 or 66. Thisis particularlyuseful where the bodies are explosive, such as dynamite sticks, or aresusceptible to breakage due to a great fall.

Means are also provided in the secondary vertical branch chutes 61 torestrict the unimpeded vertical drop of a body 39 therethrough, Thismeans is best illustrated in Figs. and not the drawings, and comprises aplurality of pivoted projections 69, 69 which extend into the chutes 61,61 and are adapted to be struck by a falling body 39. The projections69, 69 are rigidly attached to shafts 1 9, 19 with which cooperate coiltal position.

springs 1|, 1| which urge the projections 69 to their horizontalposition, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Associated with a portion of the projections 69, 69 are stops l2, 12,which prevent said projections 69, 69 from moving upwardly beyond ahorizon- It will be evident that as a body 39 drops against a projection69, that said projection will break the free fall thereof, therebyreducing its velocity, but will pivot about its shaft 19 to allow thebody 39 to continue its downward travel. It may be mentioned that thecoil springs 1| are of such strength that the weight of a single body 39resting on them is sufiicient to move them to a position to permit thebody 39 to pass downwardly through the branch chute 61. It may also bementioned, as is clearly shown in Fig. 11, that the side walls of thechutes 61, 61 may be of open or latticed construction as provided byvertical extending members l3, l3 and cross members i4, 14.

The construction of thediverters 69 and 68 is best seen from Figs. 5,16, 17 and 18 of the drawings. Said diverter 68 is formed with a bottomportion i5 and a pair of arcuate surfaces 16, 16 which terminate in apoint 11. Said diverter is carried between the end plates 18, 18 (Fig.16) of the distributor C by stub shafts l9,

, 19. Upon one of the stub shafts l9, l9 is'a disc 89 carrying a pair ofspaced pins 8|, 8|. Said pins 8|, 8| cooperate with adjustable stops 82,

82 to restrict the oscillatory movement of the diverter 68 under theinfluence of the bodies 39. A lever 83 is pivoted to the disc 89 and isprovided with a washer 84 against which presses a coil spring 85, theother end of which presses against a plate 89 rigid with an end plate 78of the distributor C. Counting mechanism 81 is connected to the upperend of the lever 83 which thereby will count the number of bodies 39which are fed to the distributor C in any given time.

The diverters 68', 68' are identical in construction to the diverter 68except, however, that there is no counter 81 associated therewith. Inthe operation of the diverter 68 let it be assumed, that said diverteris in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. In this position the righthand body 39 is free to roll down the branch chute 66 and it will .doso. This will relieve the pressure on the right bodies 39 between thetwo secondary branch chutes 66, 66. It may additionally be mentionedthat this division of the bodies 39 of course proportionately reducesthe rate at which they will be fed into the secondary vertical branchchutes 61, 61.

In the operation of the device, as will be hereinafter described in moredetail, the bodies 39 are permitted to fall through the chutes 61, 61 atrandom until a predetermined weight of material is present in the hopperD. For example, assuming that it is desired to place 25 pounds ofmaterial in the box B, then the bodies 39 will be permitted to fall atrandom into the hopper D until 24 pounds have been received by saidhopper D, after which the bodies 39 will be fed to said hopper D one ata time until 25 pounds are received. This operation is termed the finalpayoff and is employed to insure an accurate amount of material beingreceived by the box or container B. This pay-off mechanism isillustrated particularly in Figs. 5, 11 and 12 of the drawings.

As was previously mentioned, the projections 69 are normally free topivot about their shafts 19. This is due to the fact that there areassociated with said projections 69 locking levers 88, 88, pivoted aboutpins 89, 89 and having operating arms 99, 99, which operating arms arenormally contacted by operating plates 9|, 9| controlled by solenoids92, 92, which, when energized, are effective to lift the plates 9|, 9|against projections 93, 93 on the arms 99, 99 (see Fig. 11) to oscillatethe levers 88, 88 so that they do not hold the projections 69, 69 infixed position. Upon the de-energization of the solenoids 92, 92, thelooking levers 88, 98 will lock the projections 69, 69 to prevent thepassage of any body 89 therebeyond. It is thus evident that theprojections 69, 69 perform a double function in that when free tooscillate they break the fall of a body 39 and'they also cooperate toprovide for the final pay-off of said bodies 39.

As a part of the pay-off mechanism of each distributor C there is a disc93' rotatably mounted uponthe shaft 94 driven from the motor 33 (seeFig. 1) through appropriate belt and pulley driving mechanism 95including the pulley 96. The disc 93' is provided with a radial slot 91within which is a plate 98 provided with a cam 99. A spring 99 isattached at one end to the plate 98 and at the other end to a pin |9|carried by the disc 93. As a consequence, the plate 98 is urged to aposition in which the cam 99 is within the'circumference of the disc93'. The plate 98 is provided with an aperture I92 within which is aroller I93. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 94 is a rod I94 having a camI95 at the outer end thereof. Connected to the rod m4 is a shiftingcollar |99 with which cooperates the bifurcated end of an operatinglever |9'|. It will be evident that by pivoting the lever I91 in themanner illustrated in Fig. 3, the rod I99 may be shifted whereby the cam|95 cooperates with a roller I93 to tremities of the disc 93'. The leverIN is biased by a spring |98' (Fig. 3) to movethe cam 99 to itsnon-operating position as illustrated in Fig.

.12. The operating position of the cam is illustrated in Fig. 5.

Assuming that a sufficient number of bodies 39 have been fed at randominto the weighing hopper D to provide 24 pounds of material therein,

the solenoids 92 will be de-energized as will be III hereinafterdescribed in more detail. Projections 69-, 69 will therefore be lockedin position to prevent any more bodies 39 from passing through chutes61, 61. Mechanism is then provided which will operate lever IM to causethe projection of cam 99. Due to the rotation of disc 93' cam 99 willsuccessively contact rollers carried by levers I08, I09, H and III.Levers I08 to III, inclusive, are provided with coil springs H2, H3, H4which maintain the rollers thereof in contact with the surface of disc93'. The lever I08 is in the form of a bell crank and is provided withan arm II5, said lever being pivoted about a pin I I6 carried by one endplate 18 of the distributor C.

Extending transversely between the end plates I8 of the distributor Care a pair of shafts H1, H1 (see Fig. 13). Said shafts III carry aplurality of downwardly extending levers II8 which extend through spacedapertures in plates II9 (see Figs. and 11), which plates 9- are slidablysupported upon stationary straps I. The lower end of the lever II8associated with each pair of branch chutes 61 is provided with a pair ofopposed hammers I20, I20 (Fig. 5) adapted to contact lugs I2I, I2I(Figs. 5 and 11) carried by the arms 90, 90. It will thus be seen thatupon the rocking of the shaft II! the levers II8 will slide the platesII9 so that the projecting points I22, I22 of said plates H9, 9 willextend first into one of the branch chutes 61 and then into the other.At the same time, one of the hammers I20 will engage one of the lugs I2Ito oscillate a locking lever 88, thereby to free a projection 69.'Assuming, for example, that the lefthand shaft III of Fig. 5 is rotatedin a clockwise direction, plate II9 will be moved through an opening I23and will wedge between the two bottom-most bodies 39. At the same timelooking lever 88 will oscillate and free the projection 69 in saidchute. As a consequence, the bottom body 39 will be free to fall intothe hopper D and all bodies 39 above the bottom body will be retained insaid chute. Thus a single body 39 will be added to the hopper. As theshaft I I1 returns to its normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, theprojection 89, which was released, will again be looked, after which theplate H9 will be withdrawn and the bodies 39 will fall into the positionillustrated in Fig. 5. Should the shaft Ill be rotated still further tomove the lever II8 to the right, a similar action will take place in theassociated chute 81 thereby to drop another, and the bottom-most body39. It will be evident that a similar action may be effected in each ofthe chutes 61. The mechanism for effecting this individual pay-off inresponse to the rotation of the disc 93' and the operation of the leversI08 and III, inclusive, by cam 99, will now be described.

As best seen in Figs. 5, 13, 14 and 15, there is keyed to each of theshafts I" a collar I24 provided with a pair of stop lugs I25 and I26.The collar I24 will, of course, rotate with the shaft I I1. Looselyjournaled on the right hand shaft II! of Fig. 5 are the levers III] andIII previously mentioned. The lever III carries 9. lug I29 adapted tocontact the lug I25 upon a predetermined amount of counter-clockwiseoscillation of lever III, and the lever IIO carries 8. lug I adapted tocontact the lug I26 upon apredetermined amount of clockwise oscillationof said lever I I0. The lugs I25 and I26 will be spaced from the lugsI29 and I 30, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 15, when the levers II8, II0 and III are in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. As the disc 93'rotates in a clockwise direction, the cam 99 will oscillate the leverIIO, which, in turn will. oscillate the levers I I8 to shift the plateII9 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, due to the engagement between lugsI30 and I26. At the same time a hammer I20 will engage a lug I2I torelease a projection 69, as was previously described. Further rotarymovement of the disc 93' will oscillate the lever I I I, thereby tooscillate the levers I I8 to move the plate II9 to the right, as viewedin Fig. 5, due to the engagement between the lugs I25 and I 29. It is tobe noted that spring centering means I32, I32 are provided which biasthe levers I I8 to their central positions. Similar oscillation of theleft hand levers I I8 is provided by levers I21 and I28 which are alsoprovided with lugs I29 and I30. A collar I24 is also here provided ofthe same construction as that previously described. It may be noted thatlever I28 is operated from arm II 5 through a pin and slot connectionI3I.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 1, 6 and '7, and to theconstruction of the weighing hopper D. Said hopper D comprises a boxlikeframe with side walls I33 and end walls I31 suspended from a pluralityof upwardly extending hanger rods I34, of which there are four, two ofwhich pass on each side of the conveyor A, and which are attached attheir tops to a scale I35 having at its end an electrical contact pointI36. The weighing hopper D, will, of course, not be connected to thedistributor C, but is entirely free to move vertically with respectthereto. It is, however, positioned with respect to a distributor C toreceive the cylindrical bodies 39 which are discharged by saiddistributor. The end walls I31 have a Vshaped bottom structure whichextends to a pair of bottom plates I38, I38, which form the bottom ofhopper D. Extending along each of the end walls I3'I is a plate I39.Between the plates I39 and at each side of the hopper D there extends apivoted block I 40 provided with an elongated slot through which extendsa bottom plate I38. The top portion of each bottom plate I38 ispivotally attached to a lever I II which, in turn, is pivotally attachedat I42 to a side wall I33. Another lever I43 is also pivotally attachedto the top of each bottom plate I38, which lever is in turn pivoted atI44 to a bell crank lever I45, pivoted at I48 to an end wall I31. Astrap I46 provided with elongated slots at its end, extends between andconnects the short arms I41, I47 of bell crank levers I45, I45.Connected to the strap I48 is a shaft I48 provided with a pair ofarmatures with which are associated a pair of solenoids I49 and I50. Adash pot I5I is also associated with the shaft I48. Upon theenergization of the solenoid I5I the shaft I48 will be moved upwardlyand through the link mechanisms above described, the bottom plates I38will be moved to and held in the full line position illustrated in Fig.6, with the bottom of the hopper D closed. Upon the energization of thesolenoid I49 the bottom plates I38, I38 will be moved to the dotted lineposition illustrated in Fig. 6. thereby completely opening the bottom ofsaid weighing hopper. During this action the bottom plates I38 willslide through the elongated slots in the blocks I40, I40 while saidblocks pivot about their axes. As a consequence, any material in thehopper D will be dumped into the box or container B.

It is also to be noted that the hopper D is provided with a plurality ofpartitions I52, I52 which preferably progressively decrease in thicknessfrom their top downward and which terminate adjacent the bottom platesI38, I38. As illustrated, there are three such partitions I52, I52 whichdivide the hopper into four compartments, which are adapted to be fedthe bodies 39 from individual secondary vertical branch chutes 81. Thusthe hopper D is divided into four cells in the illustration given, tocorrespond with the four secondary branch chutes 61, 61. In the eventthat more than four branch chutes 61, 61 are employed, then the numberof cells in the weighing hopper D may be correspondingly increased. Ineach of said cells of the hopper D and mounted upon the side walls I33and the partitions I52, are projections I53, I53 (see Fig. 7) which arespring biased on shafts I54, I54 to break the vertical drop of any body39 dropped into said hopper. Said projections I53 will have cooperatingstops carried by the walls I33 and partitions I52 to prevent theirmovement above the horizontal position.

Carried at one end of one of the plates I39 I provide a switch I55 whichis pivoted at I56 and carries a-pivoted contact point I51 which movesbetween stops I58, I58. The operation of this switch from a box B willbe described more in detail hereinafter.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 19, 20 and 22, attention isdirected to mechanism for placing a box or container B in position to befilled and automatically removing it and delivering it to a conveyorafter it has been filled. A small branch conveyor 358 of the gravityfeed type may be provided for each of the distributors C, which branchconveyors lead from a main conveyor. Any well known means may beemployed to direct containers or boxes B from said main conveyor to theindividual branch conveyors.

A box, in rolling down the branch conveyor 358, will be stopped in aproper position by stop abutments I59. Said box B may then be movedlaterally (see Fig. 22) from the conveyor 358 to a platform I60 carriedon a hydraulic elevator mechanism I6I by a ram I62 having a pivotedabutment I63 which will allow the ram to move backwards over a box, butin moving forward will carry the box with it. Assuming that a box B ismounted on the platform I60, as is the central box B of Fig. 22,designated I64, said box I64 may be elevated into a position to receivematerial from the hopper D, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 1 by theoperation'of the elevator I6I. In addition to said platform I60, theelevator I6I comprises a piston I65 attached to a rod I66, which pistonworks in a cylinder I61. A hydraulic pressure conduit I68 and adischarge conduit I69 are alternately controlled by a valve I10 operablefrom solenoids HI and I12 through le- 4 ver I13 to apply pressure tosaid cylinder I61 or to discharge it. When solenoid "I is energized,

the valve I10 connects the cylinder I61 to the discharge conduit I69,thereby lowering the box B. When the solenoid I12 is energized, thevalve I10 is moved to position to connect the cylinder I61 with apressure conduit I68, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby to elevate thebox or container B.

Operating mechanism for the ram I62 is provided which is adjustable in anumber of respects and which is operative to move the ram I62 throughtwo 'diiferent strokes during alternate operations thereof. That is, theram will be operated tothe position I14 (Fig. 22) during one stroke andto the position I15, during the next stroke. This is for the followingreason. It is ofttimes desirable to place two piles of stacked materialin a single box side by side. As illustrating in Fig. 22 the boxes B areof the size which receive two such piles. Therefore, for one stroke ofthe ram I62 a box, such as box I64, will be moved to the positionillustrated in Fig. 22. The next movement of the ram I62 will merelymove the same box a predetermined amount so that the other half thereofwill be filled. As a box B is completely filled it will be pushed fromthe platform I60 by a new and empty box B and will be conveyed away by agravity conveyor I16. Due to the fact that for one movement the box B isonly to be moved substantially the length of the bodies 39, and in henext movement must be moved an additional distance equal to thelength ofsaid bodies 39, plus the thickness of two box side walls, it will beevident that the ram I62 must have alternate strokes of differentlengths. If only a single pile of material is put into a single box,then the ram movements will be equal for each movement thereof. Tooperate the ram I62 I provide a motor I11 (Fig. 3) which drives a pulleyI18 (Fig. 4) mounted upon a shaft I19. The shaft I19 carries at its endsa pair of crank discs I and I8I. The pulley I18 rotates freely upon theshaft I19, but has associated therewith a clutch mechanism I82 of awell'known type, which, when operated momentarily by a solenoid I83,will cause the shaft I19 to make a single rotation and then stop. Acounter-shaft I84 is mounted upon a frame upon which is also mounted theshaft I19 (not'shown) and carries at its ends a pair of ratchet wheelsI85, I86. Keyed upon the shaft I84'is a lever I86 provided with anelongated slot I81. The ram I62 is also provided with an elongated slotI88. Said slot I88 is adapted to receive adjustably a fixed pin I89which has a projecting end extending into said slot I81. It will thus beseen that if the lever I86 is oscillated about the shaft I84 that theram I62 will be oscillated an amount dependent upon the extent ofoscillation of said shaft I84. By adjusting the pin I89 in the elongatedslot I88 the normal position of the abutment I63 may 'be adjusted.

Looselyjournaled on the shaft I84is a pair of crank levers I 90 and I9I.Said levers I90 and. I9I are operable from the crank discs I80 and I8Irespectively through connecting rods I92 and I93 respectively. Saidlevers I90 and I9I are provided with elongated slots, one of which isseen at I94 on lever I90 (see Fig. 19). A pin may be provided forconnecting the connecting rod I92 and the lever I90 which maybe-adjustably fixed in the elongated slot I94, thereby to adjust thestroke of said lever I 90. A more important adjustment of the stroke ofsaid lever I90 is provided by virtue-of a plurality of apertures in thedisc I60, spaced varying distances from the axis of rotation thereofwith which a pin I 95 pivotally connects the connecting rod I92 to saiddisc I80. It is thus manifest that the stroke of the crank lever I90 maybe adjusted appreciably. Similar mechanism is provided for adjusting thestroke of the lever I9I. Carried by the lever I90 is a pawl I96 adaptedto engage the ratchet Wheel I86 as determined by the operating ornon-operating condition of a solenoid I91. A similar pawl I98 cooperateswith the ratchet wheel I and it is in operating or non-operatingcondition and dependent upon the condition of solenoid I 99.

As will be hereinafter described, the solenoids I91 and I99 arealternately energized for each stroke of the ram I62. As a consequencewhen a solenoid I91 is energized, lever I will be effectively connectedto shaft I84 thereby to impart a predetermined stroke to the ram I62 andwhen solenoid I99 is energized the lever I9I will be eifectivelyconnected to shaft I84 to oscillate the ram I62 through a difierentstroke. As best seen in Fig. 19 of the drawings, the pawl I96 isoperative from the solenoid I91 through a link mechanism 200, and asimilar link mechanism will connect the armature of solenoid I99 withpawl I98.

To provide for the alternate energization of the solenoids I91 and I99,and the consequent alter-- nation of a long stroke and a short stroke ofthe ram I62, I provide a distributor drum 20I on the outer end of thelever I90. This drum 20I is provided with notches, of which there may besix, with which cooperates a detent 202. Projecting from the side of thedrum 20l are a plurality of pins 203. Stationary adjustable stop means204 is provided, as indicated in Fig. 19, so that upon each oscillationof the lever I90, the stop 204 Will engage one of the pins 203 androtate the drum 20I one-sixth of a revolution. The drum 20I is providedwith a central continuous contact 205 with which cooperates a brush 206carried upon an insulating pin 291 supported by a bracket 208. Drum 20Ialso has two sidetracks upon which are elongated electrical contacts209. There will be three of said contacts 209 on each of said sidetracksspaced degrees apart. The contacts of the two sidetracks are spaced 60degrees apart in phase relation. A brush 2I0 rides on one of thesidetracks and a brush 2 upon .the other. Brush 2I0 is connected tosolenoid I91 and brush 2II is connected to solenoid I99. The

contacts 209 are electrically connected to the central contact 205. Saidcentral contact 205 is connected to a conductor 2I2 which is connectedto a source of power, as will be described hereinafter. It will thus beseen that as the drum 20I rotates the solenoids I91 and I99 will bealternately connected to the conductor 2I2 with the consequent alternatelong and short stroke of the ram I62 as aforesaid.

Referring particularly to Fig. 21 there is illustrated a time delaymechanism for the operation of the gate mechanism E, whereby said gatemechanism will only operate to close the mouth 45 after a numb-er ofbodies 39 have been fed to the distributor C following actuation ofcertain circuits in response to 24 pounds of material in the hopper D inthe illustration previously mentioned. As will be hereinafter described,when 24 pounds of material are received in hopper D, a solenoid 2 I3will be energized which will pull down a wheel or roller 2I4 onto thebelt 35 through a lever 2I5. The roller 2I4 is mounted on a pivot 2I6and is carried on a pivoted arm 2I1 pivoted about a stationary pivot2I8.

A counter-balancing weight 2I9 is also car-- ried on the arm 2I1 and issufficient weight to over-balance the wheel 2I4, thus tending tomaintain it out of contact with the belt 35. The wheel 2I4 carries aweight 220 and a cam 22I. The Weight 220 will normally be at the bottomof the wheel 2I4 in which position the cam 22I will be above theoperating arm of a .lever 222 pivoted about stationary pivot 223. Thelever 223 controls switch 224, which in turn, controls solenoid 56 overconductors 225 and 226.

Carried by the lever 2I5 is a projection 221 adapted to be engaged by aspring bias latch 228 upon the momentarily energization of the solenoid2 I3. The latch 22B is pivotally mounted on a plate 53 and has a bottomextension 229 adapted to be engaged by the plate 48 of the gatemechanism E. As a consequence, when solenoid 2I3 is momentarilyenergized as aforesaid, roller 2I4 will be brought into contact withbelt 35. At the outset cam 22I will be above the lever 222. The roller 2I 4 will be latched into position by the latch 228 and will continue torotate, thus causing cam 22I to rock lever 222 and close switch 224.This will energize solenoid 56 over conductors 225 and 226 which areconnected directly to power mains 230 and 23I respectively. Gate closingmechanism E will then operate in the manner previously described andwhen moved to a closed position will release the latch 228 and allow thewheel 2I4 to lift from the belt 35. Gate mechanism E therefore willremain in a closed position until returned by the solenoid 63 ashereinafter described.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 3 and to the electrical control meansfor the apparatus which will be described in connection with a typicalcycle of operation of one of the distributors C and associatedapparatus. It is to be understood that the circuits here disclosed willbe duplicated for each of the distributors C and their associatedapparatus, unless a contrary indication is given. The driving motor 33for the conveyor A is energized from power mains 230 and 23I overconductors 232, 233 through a magnetically controlled switch 234. Saidswitch 234 may be hand operated to closed position and be automaticallyoperable to open position by solenoid 235, which is part of a protectivesystem.

Associated with the entire system are a number of protecting deviceswhich may well now be described. Associated with the belt of conveyor Ais a plurality of switches 236, 236 operable from rollers 231, 231, inthe event a body 39 becomes caught between a flight 36, and the guidetrack of the conveyor A, thus elevating the belt. Also associated withthe conveyor A is a final chute 238 with which is associated a switch239. In the normal operation of the device none of the bodies 39 willreach the chute 238, but if due to some abnormal reason such chuteshould be reached, switch 239 will be closed. The closure .of switches236 or 239 will energize the solenoid 235 over conductors 240, 24I.Solenoid 235 will then open switch 234 and stop the motor 33 of theconveyor. In addition, it will close switch 242 to energize a light 243and ring a bell 244. This will call attention to the disruption of thenormal service.

Associated with the hopper D to form a guide for a box B is a pair ofside plates 245 having outwardly flared guide bottom portions 246, 246.In the normal operation of the device the guide portions 246, 246 willguide an upwardly moving box B into proper position. However, should abox not be so properly guided, but catch on one side of the guideportion 246, it will contact one of the pivoted plates 241, 241, toclose one of the switches 248, 248. Switches 248, 248 are connected inparallel with switches 236 and consequently will operate solenoid 235 asabove described, when closed. In addition to the operation of solenoid235 by any of the switches 236, 239 or 248, soleniod 249 will also beoperated over an obvious circuit including conductor 240 and conductor250, the latter being connected to main 230. When energized, solenoid249 will break the circuit to the ram operating motor I11 by openingswitch 25I, thus disabling said motor.

Assuming that the conveyor A is operating in a normal manner anddelivering bodies 39 to the first distributor C to the right hand sideof Fig. 1,

I' the breaking of the normally closed circuit to I a,11s,eao saidbodies will be delivered tome rour secondary branch chutes 61 in equalnumbers, and by said branches delivered to the four individual cells ofthe weighing hopper D. This operation will continue until apredetermined weight of material is in the, hopper D which,for'illustration, will .be 1 assumed to be 24 pounds. When this eventhappens, contact point I36'carried by thescale pointer I35 which contactI36 is con'nectedto power main 236 over conductor 252 will makemomentary contact with, contact point 253'.- As a conse quence powerwill be suppliedto line 254-to which is connected solenoid 255 of relay256. It may be mentioned that there are a group of relays 256, 251, 259,259, 269, 26I and 262 which are of essentially the same constructionexcept for such,

minor differences as are obvious from the draw ings, and are of the typein which thereoare two operating solenoids and two operating armatures,the relays being so constructed that they will remain in any position towhich they are moved.

In addition, relays 256, 251, 259, 259, and 26I'are of the type thatwhen in one position the operating solenoid which moves the relay tosaid position would have its circuit broken by the armature associatedtherewith. As soon as the relay is operated in the other direction thecircuit to said solenoid will be automatically closed. The other end ofthe solenoid 255 of relay 256 is connected tothe power line 23I. As aconsequence of the energization of the solenoid 255', contacts 293 ofrelay 256 will be closed. This results in the solenoids 92, 9-2 normallyclosed over conductors 264. 265. As a consequence, the projection 59(Fig. 5) ,will be locked in the position illustrated sion of spring I98thereby causing the cam 99,

(Fig. 5) to start the pay-off of the bodies 39 one at a timeatpredetermined intervals, for example, at three second intervals, untilsaid solenoid 219 is de-energized in response to a weight of 25 poundsin the hopper D in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

The contacting of point I36 with point 253 also energizes the solenoid2I3 over conductors 213 and 212 to cause the closing ofthe -gatemechanism-Eafter a predetermined amount of movement of the belt 35, aspreviously described. This operation insures that there willbe asuflicient number of bodies 39 in the distributor C- to flll thehopperDto 25 pounds after the gate mechanism E has closed the mouth 45.It is thus evident that the bodiesfaswiu be fed-"to the hopper D at adefinite ratesuch as one every three seconds,-

rollowing theidelivery of 24 pounds of material to said hopp'en: As itis desired to shut off the delivery of jr'naterial to the hopper D whenit contains 25 pounds of (material, a contact point 214 is'positioned tobe contacted'by the contact I36 when said 25 pounds has been deliveredto said hopper D.- When this is done-power is deliveredover thepreviously mentioned circuit including the conductor 252, contacts I35and 214 to line 215. This will result in the energization'of thesolenoid 216 of relay 251 which will break the contacts 269 and stoppay-ofl! mechanism by Solenoid 219, upon being de-energizing thesolenoid 216, which, of course, will result in the cam 99 (Fig. 5)returning to its non-operating position. At the same time solenoid 211of relay 259 will be energized to open thecontacts 269. This willprevent the subsequent re-energization of solenoid 266 when the pointerI36 moves downwardly to 24 pounds and contacts point 253 as the materialis discharged from the hopper D into the box 3. It will of 1 coursebe'lobvious' that as a-pay-ofimechanism controlled by the solenoid 219'is no longer energized, that the projection 69 will be locked-in theposition as illustrated in Fig. 5 and thus no more bodies 39 will bedelivered to the hopper D after 25 pounds of material has been deliveredthereto.

' The energization oi the line 215 due to there being 25 pounds-ofmaterial in hopper D will further energize solenoid 219 of relay 259.and

the solenoid I49 of the hopper D over conductors 293 and 29I witha'consequent opening 01 the bottom plates I39 of said hopper aspreviously described. As a consequence the cylindrical bodies 39 willroll into the box B and be stacked in even cord-wood fashion.

Energized simultaneously with solenoids 216,

v 211 and 219 I energize solenoid 29I' of relay 269 to open contacts 292thereof. This opening of close the contacts 219 thereof. This willenergize contacts 292 breaks the previously closed circuit to solenoidI59 of the hopper D normally closed over conductors 293 and 294,which'solenoid I55, as previously described, is operative when energizedto close the bottom plates I39 of said hopper D.

. Also energized at the same time is solenoid 295 of relay 26I whichcloses contacts 296 thereoi' to energize solenoid I1I, thereby to openthe valve I16 of the hydraulic elevator I6I to allow the box B, which isnow receiving the bodies 39, to descend gradually. This-action ispermitted due to the fact, that solenoid 391 of relay 262 is energizedsimultaneously with solenoid 295, as the two are i connected inparallel, thereby opening contacts 303 of relay 262 to break the circuitto solenoid I12. As said box B thus descends, the bodies 39 will beplaced therein in cord-wood fashion.

As the box 13 starts to lower, the switch I55 (see Fig. 6) will pivotabout the pivot point I56 under the influence of the .biasing spring291'and a contact point I51 will pivot about a friction pivot 299 sothat the point I51 will make an angle with the main body of the switchI55 as illustrated in the dotted line position of Fig. 6. This will bewithout immediate effect, but when the box B returns to I 1 operate theswitch I thesaid contact point I51 will momentarily engage contact point299 when the point. I51 is in alignment with the body of switch I55 dueto its contacting with the lower pin I53,

As the-elevator I6I lowers the platform IN to its bottom position, thuslowering the filled box B, it operates a swi h 290 which has essentiallythe same constructlo as the switch I55 previously described, except,however, that switch 296' has a contact point 2 9 I. adapted tomakemomentary contact with a contact 292 as said platform I6I] -movas to'itslowermost position, but the con-v tact is not made as said platformmoves awayfrom said lowermost position. When contacts "I and 292 engage,power from the line230 is transferred over conductor 256 to conductor293 to energiae solenoid I93, the side of which is connected to powerline. 23'I over conductor 294.. This wil result in the levers I and I9Imaking asingle oscillation against the tension of biasing spring 296 aspreviously described. Furthermore, as was also previously described, oneor the other of solenoids I91 and I99 will be energized overconductors'293, 293 and 2I2, thus the ram I62 will oscillate either toremove the box B from the platform I60 or to move it over if only thefirst pile of material has been fed thereto. In certain cases only onepile of material will be fed into a single box B. Under thesecircumstances the connecting rods I92 and I93 will be so adjusted thatthe ram I62 will have the same stroke regardless of which of thesolenoids I91, I99 is energizedyand consequently a box B will becompletely removed from the platform I60 upon each stroke of the ramI62. 1

At the same time that contacts 29I and 292 were closed they wereeffective to energize solenoid 296 of relay 260. As a consequencecontacts 292 was thereby closed energizing solenoid I60 and againclosing the bottom plates I38, I30 of the hopper D. At the same timethat solenoid 296 is energized solenoid 306 of relay 269 is alsoenergized, as these two solenoids are connected in parallel, the latteropening contacts 219, thereby de-energizfng solenoid I49 to permit theclosing of the bottom of hopper D as aforesaid. Thus the bottom ofhopper D is closed automatically after the box B has been loweredtherefrom.

Associated with a lever 291 carried by lever I90 is a switch 298, alsosimilar to. the switch I65.-

This switch 298 closes momentarily only after the ram I62 has moved toshift a box 13 and has returned to its normal non-operating position.When this takes place, power from line 23i is transferred over conductor250 through the contacts 299, 300 of switch 298 to place power on line30I. Power on line 30I is effective to energize solenoid 302 of relay262 to close contacts 303 thereof. The closing of contacts 303 willenergize solenoid I12 over an obvious circuit to operate the valve I10to apply pressure to cylinder I61 thereby to elevate the empty boxplaced on platform I60. It will also energize solenoid 304 of relay 26Iwhich will break the contacts 286 thereof to de-energize solenoidI1I,.thereby preventing its bucking the action of solenoid I12. At thesame time solenoid 305 of relay 258 will be energized to close thecontacts 268 thereof, thus preparing the circuit for solenoid 266 whencontacts I36 and 253 are closed in response to a new discharge of .24pounds of material in the hopper D.

It may be mentioned "that the reason :for opening the contacts 268 tosolenoid 266, as pre-- viously described, was to prevent the operationof solenoid .210 and the pay-01f associated therewith, as the scale I 35moved downwardly from i said distributor.

anaeao mechanism moved to closed position it remained there untiloperated by solenoid 63. Each of the individual distributors C wouldhave a gate mechanism E associated therewith except the last of theseries. In theoperation of the complete apparatus, the bodies will firstbe delivered to the right hand distributor C, as viewed in Fig. 1, untilthe gate mechanism E thereof is closed, as previously described.Thereafter, the bodies will be delivered to the second distributor Cuntil its gate mechanism E is closed. This action will progress untilthe last distributor is reached. The last distributor has no gatemechanism E, but associated with the scale lever I36 thereof are theusual contacts 263' and 213', which, in the illustration given,represent 24 pounds and 25 pounds respectively. When the contact pointI36 of scale I36 engages contact 263 due to the presence of 24 pounds ofmaterial in the last hopper D, the control mechanisms associated withthe last distributor C will be operated, as

previously described, in connection with the first However, there isthis difference, that there is no solenoid associated with said lastdistributor C which corresponds to solenoid 2I3 of the previousdistributors. In lieu of such a solenoid and its control circuit, thereis connected to contact point 263' a conductor 3I0, which leads tosolenoid 63 which operates the gate mechanism E to its open position.The circuit to said relay is from conductor 262, scale I36, contactpoints I36 and 263', conductor 3I0, solenoid 63, conductor 3i I, topower line 231. It is, of course, evident that conductor 262 isconnebted to power line 230.

Connected in parallel with solenoid 63 are corresponding solenoids foreach of the distributors C, excepting the last one. As illustrated'inFig. 3 of the drawings, the second said distributor C is provided with asolenoid 63' connected in parallel with solenoid 63 over conductors 3I2and 3| 3. It will thus be seen that each of the distributors C will befed successively from the conveyor A and when the last said distributorshas been fed 24 pounds of material the gates of all previousdistributors will be automatically opened and the cycle will repeatitself. There will be sufiicient bodies 39 between the next to the lastdistributor and said last distributor to fill the hopper D to 25 poundsafter the gates of the previous distributors have been opened inresponse to 24 pounds of material in said last hopper.

Reviewing briefly the operation of the apparatus, cylindrical bodieswill be conveyed by the conveyor .A successively to a plurality ofdistrib- 25 pounds to '24 pounds thus engaging utors C. The first ofsaid distributors will re- I36 and 263.

when a new box 28 reaches the elevated position .to receive bodies "fromthe hopper ED, it pperates the switch I165, previously described, toengage :contac'ts I61 and 289 momentarily. This energizes solenoid .908of relay "266 over conductors -280 and 309 thereby to close contacts 263to energize solenoids 92 and again start the random discharge 10f any[bodies in the distributor C in aa manner previously described. If thegate mechanism E is closed, this discharge may be somewhat restricted,but as soon as said :ga'te mechanism opens it will continue and theabove described cycle of operation will be repeated.

Attention is now directed to the circuits-which control the opening ofthe gate mechanisms of 'lthe several distributors as theyihave been"closed.

was previously pointed out, once a gate ceive the :bodies and distributethem equally into four different upright chutes by which they will befreelydischarged into four different cells of a weighing hopper D until24 pounds oi material is received by saidlweighlng hopper. When thistakes j;place .the previous random feeding of said bodies to the hopperD will be terminated and the bodies 'will be fed to said hopper one at atime at predetermined intervals such as three second intervals, until 25pounds of material are received'by said hopper D. When this happens thebottom of the hopper D will open and the container '15 will start tolower while the bodies 39are discharged thereinto in a uniform pile incord-wood fashion. The box B will be lowered from the 'hopper D and willbe moved away and replaced "by another box, if it is so constructed as:to receive only a single 'pile of material.

Should it be constructed to receive two piles ofmaterial it will merelybe moved over and positioned to receive the second pile. Thereafter thenew box, or the same box which has been moved over, will be returned toposition to receive another predetermined amount of material. When the24 pounds of material is received by the hopper D- as previouslymentioned, gate mechanism E was operated, after a time delay sufiicientto insure sufiicient bodies in the distributor C to fill the hopper D to25 pounds, to close the mouth 45 of said first distributor C. The bodies39 are then fed to the second distributor C where a similar action takesplace.

This is repeated to and including the last distributor C, after whichthe cycle repeats itself. It is thus evident that I have provided acompletely automatic system for taking cylindrical bodies from a hopper38 or from a conveyor A and packaging them in cord-wood fashion in acontainer or box B with a uniform weight of material in each box. I havealso provided a system, which is extremely flexible, in that boxes ofdifferent sizes may be filled.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the inventionas defined by the claims hereto appended, and Itherefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic packaging device, the combination with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey cylindrical bodies, of a distributorconstructed and arranged to be fed said bodies by said conveyor and todistribute them to a plurality of chutes, a weighing hopper adapted toreceive said bodies from said chutes, a container adapted to receivesaid bodies from said hopper, and hopper controlled weight operatedmeans constructed and arranged to shut off the feeding of said bodiesfrom said distributor to said hopper when a predetermined weight thereofhas been fed thereto, and to discharge "*Ysaid bodies from said hopperto said container in cord-wood fashion.

' 2. In an automatic packaging device, the combination with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey cylindrical bodies, of a distributoradapted to be fed said bodies by said con veyor and to distribute themto a plurality of chutes, a weighing hopper adapted to receive saidbodies from said chutes and to isolate-the bodies received fromdifferent chutes, a container adapted to receive said bodies from saidhopper, a gate for controlling the feeding of said bodies from saidconveyor to said distributor, control means operated by said hopper asdetermined by the weight of material therein, said distributor and saidcontrol means being so constructed and arranged that said bodies will befed to said chutes in equal numbers and fed freely from said chutes intosaid hopper until a predetermined weight is received by said hopperwhich is slightly below the amount desired to fill said container, afterwhich said bodies will be fed to said hopper at a predeterminedcontrolled rate until the desired amount is received thereby, afterwhich said hopper will automatically discharge said bodies into saidcontainer in cordwood fashion, said gate being closed by said controlmeans in response to said predetermined weight in said hopper.

3. In an automatic packing device, the combination with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey bodies of similar size and shape, ofa distributor constructed and arranged to be fed said bodies by saidconveyor and to distribute them equally into a plurality ofcompartments, weighing means adapted to. weigh the distributed bodies, acontainer adapted to receive said bodies in a uniform fashion, meansoperated by said weighing means and constructed and arranged to shut offthe feeding of said bodies when a predetermined weight thereof has beendistributed, and means constructed and arranged to place said weighedquantity of bodies uniformly in said container.

4. In an automatic packing device, the combi nation with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey bodies of similar size and shape, ofa distributor constructed and arranged to be fed said bodies by saidconveyor and to distribute them equally into a plurality ofcompartments, weighing means adapted to weigh the distributed bodies, acontainer adapted to receive said bodies in a uniform fashion, meansoperated by said weighing means and constructed and arranged to reducethe rate of feed of said bodies when a predetermined weight thereof isapproached and to feed them singly thereafter until said predeterminedweight is reached and distributed.

5. In an automatic packaging device, the combination with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey uniformly shaped bodies, of a hopperas determined by the weight of said bodies therein, said distributor andsaid control means being so constructed and arranged that said bodieswill be fed to said chutes in equal numbers and fed freely from saidchutes into said hopper until a predetermined weight thereof is receivedby said hopper which is slightly below the amount desired in saidcontainer, after which said bodies will be fed to said hopper at apredetermined controlled weight until the desired amount is receivedthereby, after which said hopper will automatically discharge and bodiesinto said container in a uniform fashion.

6. In an automatic packaging device, the combination with a conveyorconstructed and arranged to convey uniformly shaped bodies, .of adistributor adapted to be fed said bodies by said conveyor and todistribute them to a plurality of. chutes, a weighing hopper adapted toreceive said bodies from said chutes and to isolate the bodies receivedfrom different chutes, a container adapted to receive said bodies fromsaid hopper, control means for said conveyor operated by said hopper asdetermined by the weight of said bodies therein, said distributor andsaid control means being. so constructed and arranged that said bodieswill be fed to said chutes in equal numbers and until a predeterminedweight is received by said hopper, after which said hopper willautomatically discharge said bodies into said container in a uniformfashion.

EDWARD U. CAVE.

